What is Diego Garcia and its importance?
Diego Garcia is the largest of 55 islands split off by the United Kingdom from its Seychelles and Mauritius colonies to create the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965. Devised exclusively for military use, the BIOT has been the key US strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean since 1966.
Can civilians go to Diego Garcia?
Entry into Diego Garcia is restricted, requiring area clearance by U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia. Only unaccompanied military and DoD civilian personnel, or authorized contractors may be assigned to the island. Neither military nor DoD couples are allowed concurrent assignments to Diego Garcia.
Is there a US military base in Madagascar?
Arivonimamo Air Base (ICAO: FMMA), or simply Antananarivo Arivonimamo Air Base, is a military airport located in Arivonimamo, Madagascar….
| Arivonimamo Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Elevation AMSL | 4,757 ft / 1,450 m |
| Coordinates | 19°01′45″S 47°10′19″ECoordinates: 19°01′45″S 47°10′19″E |
| Map |
Is Diego Garcia a US territory?
Diego Garcia is an island of the British Indian Ocean Territory, a disputed overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is a militarised atoll just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, and the largest of 60 small islands comprising the Chagos Archipelago….Diego Garcia.
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Reference no. | 1077 |
Are there snakes in Diego Garcia?
The brown tree snake has been found on Wake Island and Kwajalein in the Pacific, and on Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, in addition to Hawaii.
Which country owns Diego Garcia island?
British territory
Diego Garcia is a British territory mostly populated by the US military, the British colony that’s been colonised by the Americans. Normally the island is home to about 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors. But only about 50 troops are British.
Can you vacation in Diego Garcia?
There are no commercial flights and permits for yachts are only issued to allow safe passage through the Indian Ocean (Outer Islands only). Access to Diego Garcia is only permitted to those with connections either to the military facility or to the Territory’s Administration.